Florida flips 2016 cornerback from UM

Published: Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 7:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 7:59 p.m.

Florida picked up its third 2016 verbal commitment Saturday when cornerback Chauncey Gardner flipped from Miami to the Gators after camping at UF.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder from Cocoa made an early pledge to the Hurricanes last summer, but his trip to Gainesville changed his mind.

“I fell in love with the place,” Gardner said. “It's just an amazing atmosphere with the coaches and players, and Florida has a great education. When they offered me, I committed on the spot.”

The other two members in UF's 2016 class, Tyler Byrd and Tre Jackson, are athletes who plan to play corner in college. The Gators appear to be stocking up at the position with Brian Poole graduating in 2015 and Vernon Hargreaves III expected to leave early for the NFL draft.

Gardner isn't concerned about the competition he'll face with Byrd, Jackson and the five cornerbacks Florida signed in its 2014 class.

“I'm ready for whatever,” Gardner said. “I'm a guy who's going to put the work in and earn my spot.”

Verbal commitments are not binding until prospects sign their national letters of intent.

<p>Florida picked up its third 2016 verbal commitment Saturday when cornerback Chauncey Gardner flipped from Miami to the Gators after camping at UF.</p><p>The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder from Cocoa made an early pledge to the Hurricanes last summer, but his trip to Gainesville changed his mind.</p><p>“I fell in love with the place,” Gardner said. “It's just an amazing atmosphere with the coaches and players, and Florida has a great education. When they offered me, I committed on the spot.”</p><p>The other two members in UF's 2016 class, Tyler Byrd and Tre Jackson, are athletes who plan to play corner in college. The Gators appear to be stocking up at the position with Brian Poole graduating in 2015 and Vernon Hargreaves III expected to leave early for the NFL draft.</p><p>Gardner isn't concerned about the competition he'll face with Byrd, Jackson and the five cornerbacks Florida signed in its 2014 class.</p><p>“I'm ready for whatever,” Gardner said. “I'm a guy who's going to put the work in and earn my spot.”</p><p>Verbal commitments are not binding until prospects sign their national letters of intent.</p>